Fouts apologizes in prayer service for inappropriate' remarks

Warren Mayor James Fouts apologized to a crowd of more than 700 people on Thursday for recently using offensive language during a secretly recorded phone conversation that he says has left him “ashamed and embarrassed.”

“I gave in to anger and used highly inappropriate language,” a repentant Fouts said shortly after taking his turn at the microphone during the city’s annual National Day of Prayer observance. “Nevertheless, I am responsible for my actions.

“I am truly ashamed and embarrassed by it and my apology goes to each and every one of you.”

His recent telephone tirade to an appointee who recorded the conversation is the subject of an investigation by Michigan State Police. Detectives are probing whether the mayor’s remarks violated a Michigan law that prohibits the malicious use of a telecommunications device to threaten, intimidate or harass a person.

During two phone calls recorded by the mayoral appointee, Fouts repeatedly used profanity and angrily blamed two former city employees for some political woes, including continuing changes to his Wikipedia profile despite efforts by someone he says he paid to clean it up.

In a copy of the recording obtained by The Macomb Daily, the mayor says of one of the ex-workers: “If I had a baseball bat, I’d beat the f----- down to the f------ ground. I mean, it would take me just a little bit to get a f------ gun and blow his f------ head out. That’s how p----- off I am.”

In the second recorded call, Fouts says: “Well, one of these days I’m just going to flip out, and I’m going to go over there and I’m going to take a 2-by-4 and beat the hell out of them. I may end up in jail. But I’m getting angrier and angrier,” he said.

A person found guilty of using a telephone or other telecommunications device to threaten, terrorize, intimidate, frighten, harass or annoy another person can be sentenced to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.

Fouts also used the annual non-denominational public observance outside Warren City Hall to lambast a Macomb Daily and Daily Tribune political columnist who criticized Fouts in the wake of the mayor’s controversial recorded remarks.

The second-term mayor inferred that the column, published last weekend, implied that Fouts should consider suicide.

“A viable alternative is prayer — not suicide,” he said. “What was said in The Macomb Daily is shameful.”

In the phone calls, Fouts, 70, also told the appointee that both former employees will be on his political hit list by way of a trust fund that he created to attack his enemies and help friendly candidates for office — after his death. The fund has more than $100,000, he said.

Following the prayer day event, Fouts told reporters he overreacted during the conversation with the appointee.

“I deeply regret this. I did not mean it literally. It was a moment of anger,” he added.

Fouts said Michigan State Police this week interviewed him, at his insistence, as part of the investigation.

Fouts said the meeting was cordial, held at City Hall and lasted about 30 minutes. When asked by The Macomb Daily whether he had a lawyer present, he initially declined to be specific. However, he later contacted the newspaper to say he has hired attorney Steven Kaplan, a former Macomb County assistant prosecutor.

He reiterated his assertion that the appointee’s recordings were a breach of trust and confidentiality. The individual remains employed with the city.